Corn-husking machine.



PTNNTED JUNE 133907* No. 857.565; i Y A l w. B'. METCALP.

- CORN HUsKING MACHINE.

PL OAT-ION FILED M Y ,1 'f f AP I A, 1 906 asngnTA-snmqz.

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WNIQVESSES.- I

. ATTORNE YS UNITED STATES PATENT oEEic'E.

CORN-HUSKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

p Patented June 18,1907.

Original application filed April 26, 1905, Serial No. 257,521.4 Divided and this application filed May 1, 1906. Serial No. 314,695.

T all vwhom/ t nur/y concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. METCALF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Humboldt, in the county of Richardson and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Corn-Husking Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to that class of corn husking machines which operate in conjunclelevation of the saine.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken -transf tion with mechanism for snapping the' ears ofi the stalks, the same being mounted upon a frame for transportation and ada ted to operate upon stalks standing in the ie d; and it is a division of the application Ifor Letters Patent for improvement in corn harvesting and husking machines, iiled by myself on the twenty-sixth .of April, 1905-, Serial No.A

The 'invention has for its object to simplify and improve the construction and operation of this class of devices; and with these and other ends in view, which will be hereinafter referred to and which will readilyl appear as the nature. of the invention is better understood, the saine consists in' the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts', which will' be hereinafter fully described and particularly. pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure-1 is a top plan view illustrating a simple formv o f a machine constructed in accordance with the principles of'the invention. Fig. 2 is a side Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. versely through the' snapping rolls and adjacent parts, including the ear detaching device.' Fig. 5 is a detail view showing, inelevation, a set of husking rolls illustrating a preferred arrangement of the sa1ne,-but not entering into the detailed construction of said rolls.- Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the sprocket Wheel driving a form of conveyei chain for carrying the ears over the husking rolls. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation showing a' set of husiing rolls in connection with sieves and conveyers for saving com accidentally shelled or removed from the ears. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a air of huslcing rolls. Fig. 9 is a detail view i lustratiiig modified means for conveying the ears over the husking rolls. Fig. 10 is a detail view of another modification. lFig. 11 is a detail View illustrating another modified forni of said ear conveying means. Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are sectional views illustrating various modifica.`

tions in theA construction of the husking rolls. Figs. 15 and 16 are detail views illustrating a preferred form of 'chain link used in connection with endless conveyers of the device.

The frame 1 is mounted upon the wheels 2 and 3. Supported upon the frame for rotation are a pair of snapping rolls 4, 5, the same being supported in the usual manner'in an inclined position; these rolls, which are adj acent to the inner, or grain side, and t0 the outer, or discharge side, willbe referred to as the inner and outerirolls, respectively.

The inner roll 4, which is preferably of larger' diameter than the outer roll has been illustrated as provided with a-spiral groove 6 for the purpose of more readily engaging the stalks to Vbuckle them down between the rolls; the, roll 5 may, if desired, be similarly grooved. Said rolls are geared together by intermeshing pinions'7-8, as best seen in Fig. l, and the shaft of the roller 4 has been shown as provided with a-bevel gear 9 meshing with a bevel pinion -i1pon ay suitably supported shaft 1 1 carrying a sprocket wheel 12, receiving motion by means of a chain 13 from a sprocket wheel 14, which is suitably connected with the transporting wheel 2.`

The frame visprovided Withv gathering boards .15H having bearings for shafts, as

16, carryin chain wheels over which the gatherin c airis `17 are arranged to move; said gathering chains being provided with fingers 18 of ordinary7 construction. tive power for said gathering chains may be Iprovided inthe shape of knuckle joints 19 at Moi the lower ends of the shafts of the snapping rolls, but said chains mayy be driven in any other convenient manner.

4 Suitably supported upon the frame of the -machine near the upper and lower ends of the inner snapping roll are a pair of crank shafts 23-23, the cranks 24 of which are dis osed above the plane of the snapping rol s. Said cranks are connected by means of a beater which consists of a Slat or bar 25 of any suitable length, but preferably of suflicient length to extend downwardly in the path of the corn aboutto enter between the snapping rolls so es to assist in elevatingand guiding said corn. The lcrank shaft 23, which is nearest the upper end of-the snapping rolls, is connected by bevel gearing 26 with a suitably supported shaft 27 havinga sprocket wheel 28 which is driven by means of a chain 2Q from a sprocket wheel 30 connected with the transporting wheel 2 or with IDO IIO

detaching them ironi the stalks, and causing `said ears to drop into a sunitably supported the axle of the machine, which is designated 31 and which is supported for rotation in the frame. The beater bar 25 may be relied upon to transmit motion between'the cranks 24. By this mecl'ianism it will be seen that the beater bar has an orbital movement, so that said beater bar will serve to push or bend the` stalks over the outer snap ing roll 5, as will be clearly seen in Fig. 4 'oi t e draw ings.

the upper endsof the` snapping rolls, to assist in buckling ione stalks downward between said snapping rozlls.

A suitably supported guard 32 is provided for the purpose of preventing ears from being lost in case of their becoming detached from the stalks, by any cause, prior toY coming into engagement with the ear detaching mechanisnr rlhe ear detaching mechanism comprises mainly the snapping rolls 4 and 5, the former of which,` as hereinbefore stated, is` preferably of larO'er diameter than the roll 5. The action of these rolls upon the stalks is well known in machines of this class', and it con-A sists in so engaging the stalks as to force or buckle them in a downward direction until the ears are encountered, said ears being snappedoil the stalksby thesqueezing action of the rolls. By making the roll 5 of smaller diameter, and also by supporting it in a plane slightly below the plane in which the roll 4 is supported, the natural tendency Wi-ll be for the ear, as it becomes detached, to drop over the said roll 5; especially in view of the fact that the stalks are previously beatenor bent in the direction oi said -roller 5 by the mechanism provided For the purpose.v In order to assist and to facilitate the operation'oi the snapping rolls, additional mechanism is provided, including a `pair' of endlessJ chains, belts, or bands, as

3334, mounted'` upon pulleys 35-36 upon a pair of` suitably supported `shafts 37H38, arranged the one a suitable distance above the other, and preferably parallel to the axes of the, snapping rolls. The upper shaft 37 may be e ulpped with a spirally grooved or ridge/d roll 39, b'ut this may be dispensed with, when desired. flhc belts `or bands 34 are, :under -the construction illus tratcd in- Figs. 1, 3 and 4, connected by means of slats 40 which, when thedevice is in operation, will movel downwardly past the snapping roll 5,' and said slats, contacting .A transverse roller 32a is supported near' with'tbe cars upon the stalks which are bent' in the direction of the slats by means of thev beater 25,wlll strike the said ears and effect ively coi'iperate with the snapping rollsin convcyerftrough 4l disposed. underneath.

Thejlowcr shaft 38 has been illustrated as 65 provided with a rearward extension carrying a sprocket wheel 42 (see Fig. l) said sprocket wheel being connected by a chain 43 with a sprocket wheel 44 upon the shaft of the snapping roll 5 whereby the mechanism will be operated, as will be readily understood.

Thelconveyer trough 41 sup erts, at the upper and lower ends thereof, s afts 49;-50 supporting the endless conveyer 51. The shaft 49 has a pinion 52 meshing with a pinion 53 upon a suitably supported shaft 54 having a sprocket wheel 55 which is driven by means of the driving chain 13 hereinlie'- fore referred to and which also serves to transmitmotion direct to the snapping rollsk;

By this mechanism motion is transmitted in the proper direction to the endless vconvever 5l which discharges at its upper end intb a chute 56, whereby the snapped ears areconveyed to the husking mechanism. This chute has, in the drawings, been illustrated as being in the nature of an ordinary inclined spout, and this construction will usually beV ein loyed.

`n the principal vews,'Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the machine has been illustrated as provided with two pairs constitut-V mg one complete set of husking rolls. GenV bestated that the wer pairs are of like Each pair consistsV of rolls erally speakingit ma?7 rolls of the upper and o construction.

57-5'8, suitably supported for rotation in an y inclined plane', the upper pair of rolls being. inclined oppositely to the lower pair, andso disposed that ears passing from the upper f Ioo pair of rolls ,shall be dischargedupon the lower pair of rolls, guiding means being ref erabl provided in the nature of a shie d or guar( 59. Under the construction illus trated, the rolls of` each pair are geared together bymeans of pinions 60, it being un derstood that, when d esired, such intermcshing pinions may be arranged at either or both* ends of therolls; one roll, 57, of the upper pair is driven positively bv means of a bevel pinion 61 meshing with a bevel gear 62 upon a shaftv 63 having a sprocket wheel 64 connnected by a chain 65 with .'asprocket wheel 66 upon the axle 3l of the machine; the chain lilo",

65 also engages a s rocket Wheel 67 upona` i shaft 68 supported elow and parallel-tothe sliait 63, and carrying a bevel pinion 69 meshing with fthe bevei pinion 70`upon the lower pai'rof rolls which are provided with" Y intermeshing pinions, as 69, and are thcreb positively `driven in the direction of eac other. The rolls may be provided with t'l'ul` cated conical ends or points at their delivey A ends, as shown at 70 in Fig. 1, or the en may be rounded, as shown at 71 in Figi 5,V ,if i

With regard to tbe mounting of the rolls, itfhas already been stated that the upper and lower rolls are both sup orted in anV inclined position and at a suita e angle with relation to each other to enable the ears passin over the upperrolls to be presently dumps( upon lower rolls.

' one roll has been shown as composed of seclyoke 73 generally one of the rolls, 'referably was uppermost 1n the passage over the upper ever, as will ybe hereinafter described, this and thus transferred to the upper ends of the lower rolls, theshield or guide 59 serving to guide the ears in the passage from one pair of rolls to the other. It will be noticed that in being thus transferred,'the position of the ear is naturally reversed, so that the side which rolls becomes the under side when the ear is passing over the lower rolls. This is an important feature of the invention, inasmuch as usks or portions of husks not seized upon and removed by the upper rolls will almost certainly be engaged and removed by the Two pairs of rolls will usually be considered sufficient to constitute a set, but no limitation is made tothe use of two or any particular number of pairs, as under some circumstances three or more pairs mi ht profitably be employed.

ith regard to the construction of the husking rolls, the said rolls may be of plain cylindrical shapewith tapering or rounded points, as herein described. Preferably, one roll of each pair will be constructed in two or more sections and, in the event of such construction, inde endent supporting vmeans may be provide for each section of such roll, as indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawings where tions 72-7 2, eachfsupported for rotation upon a suitably supported spring pressed the inner roll, is supported in slida le spring pressed boxes, as shown at 74 in Fig. 1 of the drawings; this is obviously in order to enable said roll to yield to the pressure of material passing between the rolls; in some cases, howfeature of construction is not essential and 1 do not wish to be understood as limitingr myself thereto.

In Fig 8 the opposite rolls have been shown as provided with projecting chisel shaped teeth 75, and with recesses 76; the teeth of one roll being adapted to engage the recesses in its mate. Each roll may be provided with such teeth and recesses7 or one 'may be provided with; teeth only and thev other with recesses only, as will be readily understood.

Under the construction illustrated in Fig. 12, a husking roll, specially designated 77, has been illustrated :1s provided with a socketed transverseI perforation 7 5 in which is seated a diametrically sliduble pin 79 havinor pointed ends Sl), the piu being of such a length that only one of the points 8U may fully protrude, at one time and the `movement of the pin being limited by means of stops 81 extending transversely through a slot 82 in said pin; the latter is engaged hy a coiled spring S3 seated in the soolcetedV recess 78, frictionally engaging the pin` and retained in. position by means l of a plug S4'. The opposing roller, indicated-l at 8.5,will be provided with recesses 8G ad aptcd l .accommodation of points 91 ofthe plu s 90 l for the accommodation of points of the/pins 79 of itsmate. Each of a pair of opposing rollers may be provided with any desired' number of slidable pins, or the pins may be mounted in one of the rolls and the op osing 7o roll may be provided with recesses 8 or engagement wlth the points of said pins; or the recesses 86 may be entirely dispensed with. It is obvious that these pins, as the rolls are rotated against each other, will operate to seize upon husks of ears passing over said rolls and to remove the husks.

Under the construction illustrated in Fig. 13, each of a pair of opposing rolls, here desi nated 8788, is provided with a plurality ,o 8o recesses 89 in which are seated plugs 90 hav-Y ing points 91, said lugs being forced outwardly by means o springs 92 in the inner l Y ends of the recesses; each of said rolls is also provided with notches or recesses 93 for the 85 in the ,mating roll. The operation Wilbe substantially like the operation ofthe pins... 79 previously described. j Under the modification illustrated in 14, 'a pair of rolls 94, 95 have been shown, each of which is provided with recessesA 96 in which are seated spring pressed plugs 97 having recesses 98 adapted for the reception of sharp points 99 firmly connected with the opposing roll. lhen this construction is resorted to, it will be unnecessary to su port either of the roll carrying shafts in slidiible, spring ressed boxes, inasmuch as the sprin presse plugs 97 will yield suflicientlyto a'dmit of the passage of the husks between the rolls. For the urpose of assisting in conveying the ears ofpcorn over the husking rolls, 'an endless conveyer, as shown in Fig. 2 and in Fig. 7, is su ported upon suitably disposed wheels or pu leys 1`00, 101 and 102, the first of which is mounted u on the shaft 63 and is thereby driven. Asil ustrated in Fig. 5, the endless conveyer 104 may be provided with fingers 105 adapted to engage the ears and to move them in a downward direction over 'the bushing rolls, the circuit of the endless conveyer being such that it will equally operate upon ears 1passing over the upper and lower U5 pair of hus ITO ing rolls. A modified ear carryin@r mechanism has been. illustrated iu Fig, 9, the same including a bar 107 su ported for vibration by means ol links 108 a ove a pair of husking rolls, and provided upon its under side with pushers, such as springs 109,` whereby the ears will be worked gradually in a downward direction over the surfaces of the rolls, each spring or 'i pusher being yieldable to ermit the passage under it of an ear operateld upon by another I, pusher, as will be readily seen in the illustri tion. This bar'is provided at its up er end with a slot' 107, surrounded by a ox or flange 107b through which corn may be fed I'3O in connection with rolls that are nearly level,

a ratchet bar, as 1041, (see Fig. 10) is'used to revent backward 'movement of the ears.

The shield or guide 59, to which reference has reviously been made, is alsoi when desired),

in Figs. 9 and 10. i

The pusher members 109 upon the bar 107 are placed slantingly so as to operate to`A gradually overturn the ear of corn as it passes over the husking rolls. L

Another modification of an ear carrying mechanism has been shown in Fig. 11, the same consisting oi' a chain which iis suitably supported by means (not .showny to travel over the husking rolls in such a manner that one lead of the chain will be disposed above the inter-space between the rolls.' The -links of this chain are provided at suitable intervals with springs 110 adapted to engage the ears for the urpose set forth. The chain links, only a ew of which have been shown, are designated'l 1 1.

The ears, as they pass from the 'bushing inechai'iisin, are delivered into an inclined trough 1 12 at the lower end of a suitable conveyor or elevator, the casinghof which, 113,`

is supported by the frame of t e machine and terminates at its upper end in a spout 1141 disposed to deliver intoa box or i'ece taele 115, which is supported upon the upper ends of suitably arranged ivoted para lel f bars 116 supported upon t ie frame tbe machine. The receptacle 115 has a hinged side '117 which is normally held closed by means of a latch 118, the latter being operable by means of a flexible element 111) connected with'an upwardly extending arm 12() oi thc latch member and guided-over a pulley 121 to a point oiattachment 122 upon one ol the bars 116. A suitably guided flexible element 123 is also provided, the saine being coiinected with the hinged side or door 117 for the purpose of closing the latter. A flexible element, such a cable 124, 1s connected with one of tbc outer iipiights 116 leading from thence to a drum or roll 125 having an opei'- ating crank 126 and a ratcliet'wheel 127 en.- gaged by a pawl 128 whereby it in ay be. held against rotation. `When a sulla-.uint quantity of corn has accumulated in the box. 115, the pawl 128 is disengaged from they ratchet `127, and the box oi" receptacle is then pcie mitted to swing in an outward direction over a receptacle, such as the box ci a wagon (not i shown) driven alongside the machine. 'lhe latch 118 is rclcasedlby pulling upon the rope 119, thus permitting the door 117 to open and the-contents of the box 115 to drop into the receptacle, after which the parts may be reconnected with the bar 107, as shown i stored yto their normal ositions by winding the rope 124 upon the rum 125 and pulling the rope 119 to restore the door 117 to latch engaging position.

'In conjunction with the bushing mechanism of the improved machine, I use means whereby waste of corn shall be avoided. ,Practical experience has proven that in the act of stripping the "huslsfrom the ears, a no inconsiderable quantity of corn will become shelled or detached from the ears',A and corn thus accidentally shelled usually is a total loss, especially in the case of machinery which, like the device of the present invention, `is operated in the lield. In order to avoid such loss, there is arranged beneath the husking rolls, inclined paris, as 130, which are preferably disposed parallel to the axes of the rollsin the manner shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings; supporting means forfthese'pans have not been shown, but they may be su ported in any suitable manner upon t e frame of the machine. The pans 130 are provided with tops or covers 131 of perforated Sheet metal, wire gauze, or other reticulated or foraininous material, and thelower i end of the upper pan terminates in a spout 132 discharging into the lower pan, which latter is provided at its lower end with a spout 133 adapted to discharge into a receptacle not shown. In o eration, the shelled corn will pass through t ie sieve to s 131 into the pans where it is disposed of in he in anner described, while husks will slide oil' the sieve tops and be deposited upon the ground or, if it be desired to collect them, in some suitable receptacle (not shown.)

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages ofthis inve n tion will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

When aniachine progresses over the AField, the corn stalks will be guided between the gatheringdevices, which serve to pick up the down cornand to guide the stalks between the snapping rolls, whereby the stalks will be buckled downwardly, while the upper ends of the stalks will be subjected to the action .of the heating mechanism whereby the cars will be caused to project over the outer snap ing Vroll and to be subjected to, the action o the ear dctaching mechanism, which, cooperatesv with the snapping rolls in the manner herein described to detach the cars which drop ipto the conveyor ywhereby theyare carried `to the hiisliiiig ii'iecliimisin.

ICO

l By the rolls which constitute the bushing mechanism, the 'husks and the machine is thenready to pursue its .of rolls, and an endless pair of huskin latter is discharged in the manner described course.l Ii:v the corn crib is located Within a convenient distance, the entire machine may' 'be driven to the crib and the contents of the `,boX 115 may be discharged directly into the" latter. j

Having thus described the is claimed is 1; Huskin mechanism including a pair of rollsdispose in an inclined position, an ad-V ditional pair of rolls supported in an oppo- Sitely inclined position beneath the iirst lpair conveyer having leadsoperating adjacent to the upper sides of the pairs of rolls.

invention, what 2. Husking mechanism including apair of rolls disposed in an inclined position, an additional pair otrolls supported in an oppositely inclined position beneath the first pair of rolls, and an endless conveyer having leads operating adjacent to the upper sides of the pairs of rolls and provided with resilient ear engaging means.

3. In a machine of the class described, a rolls disposed in an inclined position, an ac ditional pair oi2 husking rolls disposed in an oppositely inclined position beneath the iirst pair of rolls, inclined pans having sieve tops supported beneath the pairs of rolls, a chute connecting the lower Aend of the upper pan with the upper end of the lowe'r pan, and a discharge spout at the lower end of the lower pan.

4. In a machine of the class described, a set of husking rolls including a plurality of pairs of rolls disposed in oppositely inclined positions, one pair beneath another7 ear guiding means connecting the lower ends of up-4 per rolls with the upper ends of lower rolls, 4o

grain pans having sieve tops disposed beneath the pairs of rolls, connecting means between 5. In a machine of the class described,4 husking mechanism, conveying means, pivf` otallyfsupported parallel bars, and an ear acceptable, pivotally supported upon said ars.

' 6. In a machine'oithe .class described, husking mechanism, an ear conveyer, a movably supported ear receptaclea hinged side door for the latter, and latch means to retain said door closed.

7. In a machine of the class described, huskin mechanism, ear conveying means, a movab y supported ear receptacle, means for sustaining said receptacle in receiving' position and for retaining it when permitted to move into discharging position, and means for restoring said receptacle into normal position.

8. In amachine of the class described, a supporting frame, pairs of parallel uprights pivdtally connected with said frame, an ear receptacle pivotally supported upon said pairs of uprights and having a hinged side door, a Winding drum having aratchet, a pawl engaging said ratchet, and ieXible connecting means between said winding drum. and the uprights.

1 In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto ailixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM B. METCALF.

Witnesses:

BISHOP ARNOLD, FRED BUTTERFIELD. 

